“Imperfect” produce is often turned away along the supply chain (and in our own homes) for not meeting cosmetic standards, making up a significant portion of global food waste. In fact, despite often being perfectly consumable, around 20% of produce gets thrown out for being ‘ugly’.
That’s why Spanish designer Julia Roca Vera wanted to turn these cosmetic rejects into a cosmetic line. With her project entitled Lleig (Catalan for ‘ugly’), she upcycles fruit that would have been wasted, into skincare products.
She began by using a single orange and thinking of all the ways she could use it in its entirety. After juicing the orange, she extracted the essential oils using a traditional distilling tool, then used the remaining fruit scraps to create an orange oil.
These three elements were used to create a soap and moisturizer. The remaining juice was saved for drinking, the peel was used to make a potpourri. The set is housed in neutral ceramic cylinders and comes with a bowl, which can be reused afterwards.
Roca Vera’s vision is for the products to be used as part of a ritual. She explained that one should first fill the clay jar with water and pour it into the bowl to be mixed with the orange skin to wash and perfume the face. After cleansing and moisturizing, drinking the juice would be beneficial to hydrating and nourishing the body.
The same process used to create this line of products from a single orange could be applied to other commonly discarded fruits and vegetables. Lleig hopes to encourage a holistic approach to beauty, focusing on health and wellness, rather than appearances.
All images in this article are courtesy of Julia Roca Vera.
